A Still Life and Oxford Summer School

Posted on December 13, 2019 by suzette smart

Newly Stitched Still Life

This newly stitched still life was worked on a vintage garment I found on my Summer travels. Further inspiration came from the jug fabric I’d made a while ago to cover a lampshade and the addition of some Honesty to my Autumn displays. As only a small piece of the garment was used, there will be one or two more of these works to come.

Oxford Summer School. Arts, Crafts and Music Courses

Very excited to be teaching at Oxford Summer School of arts, Crafts and Music in July 2020. The new brochure is now in print and can also be found at http://www.oxfordsummerschool.com A perfect four days of mixing it up with image transfer, collage, stitch and some gorgeous bird boxes to finish!

: Oxford Summer School

: Oxford Summer School

Inspiration

Posted on November 16, 2019 by suzette smart

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve managed to clock up quite a few stitching miles creating new mixed media samples and the piece of work below with alliums and berries. Inspiration has come from the Autumn displays around the house and the jugs and vases they sit in. When I need something new to add, a quick hunt around the garden and a new seed head is found.

Base layers have been made up of painted bondaweb emulsion paint and image transfer with plenty of cutting, stitching and repurposing of samples and vintage fabrics. All I can say is hold on to your scarf if I have scissors in hand!

Happy stitching x

Family Album

Posted on October 30, 2019 by suzette smart

I can never resist making a new book or scroll, and with new workshop images needed it’s been a perfect week for it. This is one that I’ve been wanting to create for a while and will be followed by more of the same I’m sure. It’s made up of a selection of images from my old photo albums and collections of letters which were altered before transferring them onto an old piece of linen. The collaged images were then embellished and blended with repurposed fabrics, free machine and hand stitches.

I deliver Talks and Workshops for Guilds and Groups throughout the Uk with regular workshops a little closer to home at Westhope College, Craven Arms and The Willow Gallery, Oswestry. Please get in touch for more information or go to Dates For The Diary. Happy stitching x

http://www.westhope.org.uk

News!

Posted on July 10, 2019 by suzette smart

I’m absolutely thrilled to find out today that the piece below has been accepted into the inaugural Vlieseline Fine Art Textile Award Gallery at The Festival of Quilts this August. The gallery can be seen again at the Knitting & Stitching Shows in the Autumn. I’m going to say it again, I’m thrilled!!!

Mixed Media Textile Books

On another note, it’s a busy weekend ahead with a workshop at The Willow Gallery, Oswestry on Saturday, and then on Sunday I shall be demonstrating at Westhope College, Craven Arms on their Open Weekend. Plenty of stitching, chatting and drinking of tea!

Happy stitching x

http://www.westhope.org.uk www.willowgalleryoswestry.org

Open Studios 8/9th & 15/16th June 2019

Posted on May 15, 2019 by suzette smart

This isn’t an all new piece but one I’ve added to and embellished further. I am known for taking a pair of scissors to something I’m dissatisfied with but I thought this was worth saving.

There will be opportunity to see it and other works in the BVA Open Studios Exhibition at The Willow Gallery, Oswestry (18th May to 29th June)

As a little extra this year, I will be running a Mini Mixed Media Workshop on Tuesday, 11th June at the Willow Gallery from 10am to 1pm. Cost £25. We will be stitching too and some materials are provided. For further details you can contact myself at suzettesmart1@btinternet.com or TEL 07966983868

For open studios itself, I will be in a pop up studio along with printmaker, Judith Harrison behind the gallery. As well as work for sale, we’re going to have stitching, printing and mixed media demonstrations and for those who would like to have a go, there will be opportunity for this too! The open studios weekends are 8/9th June and the 15/16th June 10am to 5pm

http://www.willowgalleryoswestry.org

http://www.borderlandvisualarts.com

I do not write poetry

Posted on March 22, 2019 by suzette smart

I’d written a little something in stitch a while ago which has been sitting patiently for an embroidery to call its own. As an embroiderer, I don’t waste anything I stitch. Whether it’s cut up and collaged into something I’m working on, or the foundation for an entire new piece as this one is. Anyway, here are the words with pictures following.

“I do not write poetry,

I do not write prose,

Give me a pen and I shall learn then,

How to draw my world in words.”

Mixed media, machine and hand embroidery

There’s a lot to be learnt when I’m working on a piece of this scale, this then filters through to smaller works, stitched books and workshops. A lovely flow of ideas, techniques and inspiration. For further details on workshops please go to dates for the diary.

Mixed Media Textile Books

Mixed Media Collage

And now for some lovely news from a couple of weeks ago. I have now joined a growing number of artists and makers in becoming a new member of The Society For Embroidered Work or S.E.W. for short. Look them up at http://www.societyforembroideredwork.com or follow the #societyforembroideredwork on instagram and twitter. Stitch, create and be happy xx

Workshop at Waddow Hall

Posted on October 16, 2018 by suzette smart

Last weekends workshop took me to Waddow Hall in Clitheroe which overlooks the River Ribble. A beautiful setting to spend a few days stitching with members of the South Cheshire Embroiderers Guild.

A quick start on Friday afternoon and a full day of stitching on Saturday ensured there was a little time for some final embellishment with beads and hand stitch on Sunday.

I can’t believe how much we got done! Thank you All for making me most welcome.

A painting of Waddow Hall circa 1690

Small Boxes With Free Machine Embroidery And Fabric Collage

fabric collage with free machine embroidery

Travelling Sewing Box

Small Box (detail)

Small Boxes

Fabric collage and free machine embroidery

Fabric Collage and Free Machine Embroidery

It’s been a while

Posted on July 18, 2018 by suzette smart

It’s been a while folks! So I’ve put together a collage of images from recent workshops, work and events.

My Jay is finished and waiting to be framed. I was adding the final stitches during open studios in June when someone gave me a Jay feather that they had picked up on a walk that morning. I like it when that happens. It adds an unseen layer to the stitches.

That’s me in the top picture at the beautiful Westhope College in South Shropshire. It was their annual open weekend and exhibition of students work. An inspirational and creative place which I was able to enjoy from the garden with basketry demonstrations happening around me. My workshop dates at Westhope can be found in Dates for the diary and on their website.

http://www.westhope.org.uk

A mixed media layer and text have definitely found their way amongst the fabric collage and stitch in recent workshops. I’ve tailored my next date at The Willow Gallery, Oswestry, to experiment and play with these layers further. This will give me an excuse to get messy too, not that I need one of course! For Willow Gallery dates, see Dates in the diary and their website below.

http://www.willowgalleryoswestry.org

Happy days are those spent stitching x

Sneak peek

Posted on March 21, 2018 by suzette smart

With so many favourite bits already, I couldn’t resist this sneak peek of work in progress. Although, currently at 1.4 metres x 1.35 metres I could be here for sometime. A blackbird and a pair of red shoes can be found in it and the remnants of a 1970s house coat. With props like those it’s going to keep me busy for a few more weeks yet.

Happy stitching

Textile books and bird boxes

Posted on February 9, 2018 by suzette smart

Creativity is now in full flow after a slow start to 2018 and with some new textile books and a couple of bird boxes made, there is no stopping me! With a couple of tweaks the mixed media bird boxes will be ready for a workshop date sometime soon. They have already had a trial run at my kitchen table sewing days with gorgeous results!